Reconfigurable child&#39;s toy

ABSTRACT

A reconfigurable child&#39;s toy features a first configuration including a table with a top and a supporting pedestal and chairs about the table. A second configuration includes two or more of the chairs stacked on each other and the table top and supporting pedestal interlocked with the stacked chairs forming a play structure such as a tower, a rocket ship, or other round or square play structure.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application hereby claims the benefit of and priority to U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/205,552, filed on Jan. 21, 2009under 35 U.S.C. §§119, 120, 363, 365, and 37 C.F.R. §1.55 and §1.78.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The subject invention relates to children's toys.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

“Transformer” type toys transform from a robot-like configuration to acar or plane, for example. But, no known transformer type toy serves autilitarian type purpose in any configuration. Children's furniture iswell known as is “puzzle” style furniture where various portions of thefurniture, the sides of a bookshelf, for example, are in the shape ofpuzzle pieces.

There is, however, no known reconfigurable child's toy which serves autility purpose in one configuration and forms a play structure in asecond configuration.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a new child'stoy.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a toy which, inone example, converts from a table and chair set to a rocket, castle, orother play structure.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a toy which isfun, interesting, and easy to use.

The subject invention results from the realization that, in oneembodiment, an interesting new child's toy converts from a table andchair set to a rocket, castle, or other play structure wherein the tabletop is fairly well secured to a supporting pedestal and yet the tabletop and the supporting pedestal components easily separate toreconfigure the toy as a castle, rocket, or other play structure wherethe chairs are uniquely configured to interlock with each other and thetable top and supporting pedestal components.

The subject invention features, in one embodiment, a reconfigurablechild's toy comprising a first configuration including a table with atop and a supporting pedestal and chairs about the table. A secondconfiguration includes two or more of the chairs stacked on each otherand the table top and supporting pedestal interlocked with the stackedchairs forming a play structure.

In one example, the table top forms a base for the play structure andthe chairs form a tower. The supporting pedestal may form a towerbalcony and one portion of the pedestal may include castellations forthe balcony.

In some examples, pieces used in the second configuration are not usedin the first configuration. For example, a flag and a tower top portionmay be used only in the second configuration.

Typically, each chair includes a base, a seat on the base, and abackrest upstanding from the seat. In one example, the base, the seat,and the backrest of each seat are configured such that when one chair isplaced upside down on another chair, the result is a structure. In onepreferred embodiment, each seat includes spaced detents and the backrestincludes spaced ball members for stacking the chairs. One seat base mayinclude, on a bottom surface thereof, spaced ball members and one seatbase may include, on a bottom surface thereof, spaced detents. The tabletop may include, on one surface thereof, spaced ball members receivablein the spaced detents in the bottom surface of the at least one seatbase.

In some versions, the supporting pedestal includes a base portion and acolumn supported on the base portion. The base portion may include acavity receiving the column partially therein. The cavity includesspaced ball member and the column member includes spaced detents in abottom surface thereof. The table top includes, on an underside thereof,a threaded cavity and the column includes a threaded top portionreleaseably received in the threaded cavity of the table top. Also, thesupporting pedestal base portion includes a threaded cavity in a surfacethereof and the column includes a threaded bottom portion releasablyreceived in the threaded cavity of the supporting pedestal base portion.

Typically, the chairs, the table top, and the supporting pedestalincludes means for interlocking them together in the play structureconfiguration. In one version, the means for interlocking includes ballson and corresponding detents in surfaces of the chairs, the table top,and the supporting pedestal. Also, the table top and supporting pedestaltypically include means for interlocking them together in the firstconfiguration. For example, the supporting pedestal can include a columnwith threaded ends and the base includes a threaded cavity receiving athreaded end of the column. Also, the table top includes a threadedcavity receiving therein an opposite threaded end of the column.

In one example, the chairs form a rocket body in the secondconfiguration and the pedestal forms a nose piece for the rocket body.There may also be legs for the table forming legs for the rocket body inthe second configuration. There may also be a needle for the rocket andwings for the rocket.

The subject invention also includes chairs each including a baseportion, a seat on a base portion, and a backrest upstanding from theseat and means for interlocking the chairs together when stacked to forma play structure including at least one chair stacked upside down onanother chair. Each chair may include a portion of a picture completedwhen the chairs are stacked to form the play structure.

The base portions of the chairs can be square and then the backreststypically include a half-square outer surface forming a box shaped playstructure. In another example, the base portions of the chairs are roundand the backrests then typically include a half-circle outer surfaceforming a round play structure.

The toy may further include a table configured to be stacked with thechairs to form the play structure. The table may include a table top, acolumn supporting the table top, and a base portion supporting thecolumn. The table can, in some designs, include legs and a supportingpedestal. In another version, the table is in the form of a block memberstackable with the chairs.

The subject invention, however, in other embodiments, need not achieveall these objectives and the claims hereof should not be limited tostructures or methods capable of achieving these objectives.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, features and advantages will occur to those skilled inthe art from the following description of a preferred embodiment and theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic three-dimensional view showing a reconfigurablechild's toy in accordance with an example of the subject invention in aconfiguration where there is a table and chairs or stools about thetable;

FIG. 2 is a schematic three-dimensional front view showing a secondconfiguration, in one example of the subject invention, where the stoolsof FIG. 1 are stacked on each other and the tabletop and supportingpedestal are also stacked with the stools forming a castle-type playstructure;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the underside of the table shown in FIG.1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic bottom view of the table, supporting pedestal, andstool shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a schematic three-dimensional view of the column memberportion of the pedestal shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the top of the base portion of thepedestal shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a schematic three-dimensional front view of the tower topshown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a schematic bottom view of the top portion shown in FIGS. 2and 7;

FIGS. 9A-9D are schematic views of another version of a toy inaccordance with the subject invention configured as four chairs;

FIG. 10 is a view of a play structure formed by stacking the chairs ofFIG. 9;

FIGS. 11A-11C depict still another version of a toy with two chairs anda cube shaped table;

FIG. 12 shows the table of FIG. 11C stacked on the two chairs in FIGS.11A and 11B forming a play structure;

FIG. 13 is a schematic view showing another version of a child's tableand chair set in accordance with the subject invention;

FIG. 14 is a schematic top view of one of the chairs shown in FIG. 13showing how the seat portion is removable for storing items in the chairbody;

FIG. 15 is a schematic view showing the table and chairs of FIG. 13rearranged as a play structure;

FIG. 16 is schematic view showing still another example of a child'stable and chair set in accordance with the subject invention; and

FIG. 17 is a schematic view showing the table and chairs of FIG. 16rearranged and stacked on top of each other forming a toy rocketstructure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Aside from the preferred embodiment or embodiments disclosed below, thisinvention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced orbeing carried out in various ways. Thus, it is to be understood that theinvention is not limited in its application to the details ofconstruction and the arrangements of components set forth in thefollowing description or illustrated in the drawings. If only oneembodiment is described herein, the claims hereof are not to be limitedto that embodiment. Moreover, the claims hereof are not to be readrestrictively unless there is clear and convincing evidence manifestinga certain exclusion, restriction, or disclaimer.

The subject invention features reconfigurable child toys. In onepreferred embodiment, the child's toy has a first configurationincluding a table with a top and a supporting pedestal and stools orchairs about the table. In a second configuration, the stools arestacked on each other and the table top and supporting pedestal areinterlocked with the stacked stools forming a play structure. FIG. 1shows an example where the table is assembled on top of its supportingpedestal and there are stools about the table. FIG. 2 shows the table,supporting pedestal, and stools reconfigured as a tower or castle with abalcony. Typically, the table top forms a base for the play structureshown in FIG. 2. The stools form the body of the tower. The supportingpedestal forms the tower balcony, one portion of which includescastellations for the balcony.

In this specific example, a reconfigurable child's toy 10 in a firstconfiguration includes table 12 having top 14 and supporting pedestal 16itself including base portion 18 with castellations 20. Supportingpedestal 16 also includes separate column member 22. Column member 22screws into the underside of table top 14 and side 66 of base 18. Chairsor stools 24 a-24 d are shown about table 12 and each typically include,as shown for stool 24 a, base 26 a, seat 28 a thereon, and backrest 30 aupstanding from seat 28 a. In this example, backrest 30 is circular andforms a half circle on seat 28 a.

The toy also has a second configuration shown in FIG. 2 where stools 24a-24 d are stacked on top of each other such that, for example, backrest30 a of seat 24 a, FIG. 1 mates with seat 28 b of stool 24 b andbackrest 30 b of stool 24 b mates with seat 28 a of stool 24 a. When socombined, the stools form a round portion 41, FIG. 2 of tower 40.

In FIG. 2, table top 14 is turned upside down and forms the base of theplay structure. Surface 42 may include indicia 43 as shown. Stackedstools 24 a-24 d form tower 40 and supporting pedestal 16, FIG. 1 formstower balcony 42 when base portion 18 is seated on upside down stool 24d and column member 22 is seated on pedestal 18. Tower top portion 44sits on column member 22 and flag 46 sits in a cavity 90, FIG. 7 in thetop of top portion 44.

To releasably interlock the stools together in this configuration, eachstool, as shown in FIG. 1, includes spaced detents 32 on seat portion 28and spaced ball members 34 on the top of backrest 30. Ball portions 34a, of stool 24 a, for example, are received in detents 32 b of stool 24b and ball portions 34 b of stool 24 b are received in detents 32 a ofstool 24 a when the stools are stacked in the configuration shown inFIG. 2.

The underside of table 14, FIG. 3 includes circular depression 50 withspaced ball members 52 thereon for receipt in corresponding detents 54,FIG. 4, in the bottom surface 56 of stool 24 a base 26 a. The undersideof table 14, FIG. 3 also includes threaded cavity 60 for receivingthreaded top 64, FIG. 5 of column 22. The bottom of column 22 alsoincludes a threaded portion 65 secured into a threaded cavity 65, FIGS.1 and 6 in surface 66 of base portion 18. In this way, when the tableand chairs are configured as shown in FIG. 1, the table is fairly robustbut table top 14 and base 18 can be decoupled from column 22.

The top and bottom of column 22, FIG. 5 also includes spaced detents 70as shown for the top of column 22. These detents receive spaced ballmembers 72, FIG. 4 in cavity 74 on the top surface of base portion 18when base portion 18 supports column 22 as shown in FIG. 2.

The other end of column 22, FIG. 5 also includes spaced detentsreceiving spaced ball members 23, FIG. 8 on the underside 21 of topmember 44, FIG. 1.

Stool 24 c, FIG. 1 has on its bottom surface 80, FIG. 4, spaced detents82, receiving spaced ball members 84 in the bottom of stool 24 b. Thebottom of stool 24 d has spaced detents 86 receiving spaced ball members67, FIG. 6 on the underside of base portion 18, FIGS. 2 and 6.

Thus, in this particular design, three stools 24 a, 24 c, and 24 d, FIG.1 have, on their bottom surfaces, spaced detents while stool 24 b has,on its bottom surface, ball members. Base portion 18 has ball members onits top and bottom, table 14 includes, on its underside, ball members,and top 44 includes, on its underside, ball members, and both ends ofcolumn 22 include ball members and threaded portions 64, 65, FIG. 5. Theunderside of table 14, FIG. 1, in turn, includes a threaded recess 65 insurface 66, FIG. 6, and base member 18, FIG. 1 includes a threadedrecess 61, FIG. 6. Also, the seats of each stool member include detentsas shown in FIG. 1 and the raised half circle backrests include spacedball members.

There are other equivalent means, however, for releasably securing thechairs together in the stacked configuration as shown in FIG. 2 alongwith tabletop 14, base member 18, column 22, and top member 44. Thereare also equivalent means for releasably securing table 14 and base 18to column 22 in the configuration shown in FIG. 1.

In the design shown in FIGS. 9-10, chairs 100 a-100 d, FIGS. 9A-9D, arestackable to form play structure 102 a, FIG. 10. Surfaces of each chairinclude a portion of one or more pictures as shown at 104 and 106 forchair 100 a, FIG. 9A. When the chairs are properly stacked as shown inFIG. 10, each wall of the structure includes now a complete picture,e.g., pictures of popular movie or TV show characters. In FIG. 10, chair100 a is stacked on chair 100 b itself stacked on chair 100 c which isstacked on chair 100 d.

As shown for chair 100 a, FIG. 9A, all these chairs include square base110 a with seat 112 a including spaced detents 114 a. Backrest 116 aincludes curved inner wall 118 a, half-square outer wall 120 a, andspaced ball members 122 a on top surface 124 a. Thus, when stacked, thechairs form the box shaped play structures shown in FIG. 10.

In FIGS. 11-12, block structure table 130 (in this example a cube) isincluded along with chairs 110 e and 110 f. When stacked, table 130 sitson chair 110 e itself stacked upside down on chair 110 f. The bottom oftable 130 may include spaced ball members received in detents in thebottom of chair 110 e. Again, table 130 and chairs 110 e and 110 finclude parts of a picture completed in the play structure configurationshown in FIG. 12. Chairs 110 e and 110 f are similar in design to chairs100 a-100 d, FIG. 9.

A round play structure can also be formed in this manner by making table130 in the form of a cylinder and the bases and backrests of each chaircircular in configuration.

FIG. 13 depicts another example where table 150 has table top 152 andpedestal column 154 with base 155. Chairs 156 a-d are also included. Theseat portions 158, FIG. 14 of each chair may be removable for storage inchamber 160 of each seat base as shown. When table 150 is turned upsidedown as shown in FIG. 15, and chairs 156 a-156 b are stacked along withtop member 162, a play structure is formed with indicia (e.g., acorporate logo or trademark) 164 thereon. Again, the ball and detentsdiscussed above can be employed to stack the chairs on table top 152.

FIG. 16 shows table 180 with four legs 182 a, 182 b, and the like alongwith pedestal 185 supporting top 184. Four chairs 186 a-d are shown.

In this example, the second configuration is a toy rocket ship 190, FIG.17 where chairs 186 a-186 d are stacked on upside down table top 184 andpedestal 185 is stacked on top as a rocket nose piece. Toy rocket 190also includes nose 192 and wings 194 a and 194 b. These pieces are notused in the table and chairs configuration shown in FIG. 16. In FIG. 17,legs 182 a, 182 b and the like of table 180 form legs for the rocket.

The balls and detents discussed above or equivalent interlockingstructures can be used to retain the chairs in the stacked configurationshown in FIG. 17.

In some examples, there are pieces supplied used in the secondconfiguration but not in the first configuration and perhaps vice versa.For example, the flag and top portion of the castle shown in FIG. 2 doesnot serve any purpose in the furniture configurations shown in FIGS. 1and 5. In FIG. 16, the wings of the rocket and the needle of the rocketdo not serve any purpose in the furniture configuration shown in FIG.11.

Typically, the components interlock in some fashion in the secondconfiguration and preferably all of the components are made of plastic.The result is a highly versatile concept for a new toy examples of whichare disclosed above.

Although specific features of the invention are shown in some drawingsand not in others, however, this is for convenience only as each featuremay be combined with any or all of the other features in accordance withthe invention. The words “including”, “comprising”, “having”, and “with”as used herein are to be interpreted broadly and comprehensively and arenot limited to any physical interconnection. Moreover, any embodimentsdisclosed in the subject application are not to be taken as the onlypossible embodiments.

In addition, any amendment presented during the prosecution of thepatent application for this patent is not a disclaimer of any claimelement presented in the application as filed: those skilled in the artcannot reasonably be expected to draft a claim that would literallyencompass all possible equivalents, many equivalents will beunforeseeable at the time of the amendment and are beyond a fairinterpretation of what is to be surrendered (if anything), the rationaleunderlying the amendment may bear no more than a tangential relation tomany equivalents, and/or there are many other reasons the applicant cannot be expected to describe certain insubstantial substitutes for anyclaim element amended.

Other embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art and are withinthe following claims.

1. A reconfigurable child's toy comprising: a first configurationincluding: a table with a top and a supporting pedestal, and chairsabout the table; and a second configuration including: two or more ofthe chairs stacked on each other, and the table top and supportingpedestal interlocked with the stacked chairs forming a play structure.2. The toy of claim 1 in which the table top forms a base for the playstructure.
 3. The toy of claim 1 in which the chairs form a tower. 4.The toy of claim 3 in which the supporting pedestal forms a towerbalcony.
 5. The toy of claim 4 in which one portion of the pedestalincludes castellations for the balcony.
 6. The toy of claim 3 furtherincluding pieces used in the second configuration not used in the firstconfiguration.
 7. The toy of claim 6 in which said pieces include a flagand a tower top portion.
 8. The toy of claim 1 in which each chairincludes a base, a seat on the base, and a backrest upstanding from theseat.
 9. The toy of claim 8 in which the base, the seat, and thebackrest are configured such that when one chair is placed upside downon another chair, the result is a structure.
 10. The toy of claim 8 inwhich each seat includes spaced detents and the backrest includes spacedball members for stacking the chairs.
 11. The toy of claim 8 in which atleast one seat base includes, on a bottom surface thereof, spaced ballmembers and at least one seat base includes, on a bottom surfacethereof, spaced detents.
 12. The toy of claim 11 in which the table topincludes, on one surface thereof, spaced ball members receivable in thespaced detents in the bottom surface of the at least one seat base. 13.The toy of claim 1 in which the supporting pedestal includes a baseportion and a column supported on the base portion.
 14. The toy of claim13 in which the base portion includes castellations.
 15. The toy ofclaim 13 in which the base portion includes a cavity receiving thecolumn partially therein.
 16. The toy of claim 15 in which the cavityincludes spaced ball members and the column member includes spaceddetents in a bottom surface thereof.
 17. The toy of claim 16 in whichthe table top includes on an underside thereof a threaded cavity and thecolumn includes a threaded top portion releasably received in thethreaded cavity of the table top.
 18. The toy of claim 17 in which thesupporting pedestal base portion includes a threaded cavity in a surfacethereof and the column includes a threaded bottom portion releasablyreceived in the threaded cavity of the supporting pedestal base portion.19. The toy of claim 1 in which the chairs, the table top, and thesupporting pedestal includes means for interlocking them together in theplay structure configuration.
 20. The toy of claim 19 in which saidmeans for interlocking includes balls on and corresponding detents insurfaces of the chairs, the table top, and the supporting pedestal. 21.The toy of claim 1 in which the table top and supporting pedestalinclude means for interlocking them together in the first configuration.22. The toy of claim 21 in which the supporting pedestal includes acolumn with threaded ends and a base including a threaded cavityreceiving a threaded end of the column and the table top includes athreaded cavity receiving therein an opposite threaded end of thecolumn.
 23. The toy of claim 1 in which the chairs form a rocket body inthe second configuration.
 24. The toy of claim 23 in which the pedestalforms a nose piece for the rocket body.
 25. The toy of claim 23 furtherincluding legs for the table forming legs for the rocket body in thesecond configuration.
 26. The toy of claim 23 further including piecesused in the second configuration not used in the first configuration.27. The toy of claim 26 in which said pieces include a needle for therocket and wings for the rocket.
 28. A reconfigurable child's toycomprising: chairs each including a base portion, a seat on the baseportion, and a backrest upstanding from the seat; and means forinterlocking the chairs together when stacked to form a play structureincluding at least one chair stacked upside down on another chair. 29.The toy of claim 28 in which the means for interlocking include spaceddetents in the seat portion of each chair and spaced ball members on thebackrest of each chair.
 30. The toy of claim 28 in which each chairincludes a portion of a picture completed when the chairs are stacked toform the play structure.
 31. The toy of claim 28 in which the baseportions of the chairs are square and the backrests include ahalf-square outer surface forming a box shaped play structure.
 32. Thetoy of claim 28 in which the base portions of the chairs are round andthe backrests include a half-circle outer surface forming a round playstructure.
 33. The toy of claim 28 further including a table.
 34. Thetoy of claim 33 in which the table is configured to be stacked with thechairs to form the play structure.
 35. The toy of claim 34 furtherincluding means for interlocking the table with the stacked chairs. 36.The toy of claim 35 in which the means for interlocking includes ballson a surface of the table and detents in the base portion of a chair.37. The toy of claim 33 in which the table includes a table top, acolumn supporting the table top, and a base portion supporting thecolumn.
 38. The toy of claim 37 in which the base portion includescastellations.
 39. The toy of claim 37 further including means forinterlocking the column with both the top and the base portion.
 40. Thetoy of claim 39 in which the column has threaded ends, the base includesa threaded cavity receiving a threaded end of the column and the tabletop includes a threaded cavity receiving therein an opposite threadedend of the column.
 41. The toy of claim 33 in which the table includeslegs and a supporting pedestal.
 42. The toy of claim 33 in which thetable includes a block member stackable with the chairs.